Vitamin D status and shift work

In the UK, there has long been a need for consuming foods high in vitamin D in order to
prevent diseases associated with low bone mineral density such as osteoporosis in adults
and rickets in children. It has been claimed that potentially, 50% of the UK adult population
are vitamin D insufficient in winter and spring time, actual deficiency may be 16%. Those
workers who commence their working hours in the evening may be deprived of vitamin D
synthesising UVB. Moreover, the physical maladaption to altered circadian rhythms
experienced by many shift and, particularly, night workers has been identified as a leading
cause of change to dietary intake. The previous literature has documented associations
between nocturnal working schedules and adverse health effects. The influence of working
place shift schedules i.e. night and day shifts, on vitamin D status has not been researched
extensively.

In the UK, there has long been a need for consuming foods high in vitamin D in order to
prevent diseases associated with low bone mineral density such as osteoporosis in adults
and rickets in children. It has been claimed that potentially, 50% of the UK adult population
are vitamin D insufficient in winter and spring time, actual deficiency may be 16%. Those
workers who commence their working hours in the evening may be deprived of vitamin D
synthesising UVB. Moreover, the physical maladaption to altered circadian rhythms
experienced by many shift and, particularly, night workers has been identified as a leading
cause of change to dietary intake. The previous literature has documented associations
between nocturnal working schedules and adverse health effects. The influence of working
place shift schedules i.e. night and day shifts, on vitamin D status has not been researched
extensively.